Fascia board and end fitting therefor



July 14,1953

. I H. NELSON FASCIA BOARD AND END FITTING THEREFOR I Filed May 18, 1948INVENTOR HARRY NELSON BY 4 W+M HIS ATTORNEYS Patented July '14, 1953FASCIABOARD AND END FITTING THEREFOR Harry Nelson, New York, N. Y.,assignor to Lorentzen Hardware Mfg. Corp., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 18, 1948, Serial No. 27,773 (Cl.16038) 11 Claims.

This invention relates toVenetian blinds and more particularly to fasciaboards used in conjunction with such blinds.

It is customary to provide a fascia board or valance extending in frontof the usual head bar and tilt bar of a Venetian blind, to conceal theseand certain related parts and thus enhance the appearance of the blind.The fascia board or valance, which is a wide strip of small thickness,is often carried by the so-called installation brackets which supportthe head bar of the blind.

In the above-described organization, a fascia carrier is provided on thefront of each of the installation brackets for supporting the ends ofthe fascia board. The fascia board carrier is usually pivoted to a frontcorner of the installation bracket and may comprise a front flange andone or more fingers or flanges behind and generally parallel to thefront flange for retaining a fascia board therebetween. An installationbracket embodying this form of carrier is shown in the accompanyingdrawings and is also shown and described in my copending application S.N. 623,970, which has matured into Patent No. 2,473,293.

Fascia boards have commonly been made of wood, but fascias or valanceshave also been made of sheet metal. When made of sheet metal, they havein common parlance still been called fascia boards; and such terminologywill be used herein.

The fascia carriers of the installation brackets which have beenreferred to previously are adapted for wooden fascia boards ofrectangular cross section. In the form shown of the present invention,metal fascia boards having inturned upper and lower edges have beenadapted for use with the same installation bracket without any changewhatsoever in the bracket. This is accomplished by the provision of anend fitting for each end of the metal fascia board, the fittingtelescopically engaging with the fascia board and building the endportions of the board to suitable thickness for proper engagement of thefascia board with the installation brackets. In addition, these endfittings are provided with deformable flanges for retaining the ends ofa curtain rod that is supported behind the fascia board, the curtain rodserving to support curtains in the usual manner. For convenience, thefitting and fascia board are described herein as in their orientedinstalled position.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide an end fittingfor a metal fascia board that will adapt the fascia board for use withan and economies of construction, manufacture and use will moredefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims. In the claims,as well as in the description, parts may be identified at times byspecific names for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is tobe understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the contextand with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinentprior art. The best form in which I have contemplated applying myinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part ofthis specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the organization of a Venetianblind installation bracket, a portion of a fascia board and a curtainrod, the end fitting of the present invention being assembled with thefascia board. In this view, the fascia board carrier of the bracket isin open position.

Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview, on a larger scale, of the end fitting shownin Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, on the scale of Fig.

2, of the end portion of the fascia board organization shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

panying drawings, only the left-hand bracket and left-hand end portionof the fascia board has been shown. It is to be understood that theorganization at the other end of the fascia board is similar, theinstallation bracket there used being the same as shown in theaccompanying drawings but of opposite hand.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the present invention is shown applied to anorganization including an installation bracket generally indicated as H]and a fascia board assembly designated as a whole by II. Theinstallation bracket [9 is provided with a fascia board carrier i2pivoted to the lower front portion of the bracket body l3. 7 This fasciaboard carrier comprises a side flange l4 pivotally connected with thebracket body l3 and a front flange l5, the carrier being adapted to beoscillated between the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6; A pair of rearfingers or flanges I6, l6 project from the side flange l4 behind andgenerally parallel to the front flange I5. The front flange [5, rearflanges I6, l6 and a bottom flange I! which projects rearwardly from thefront flange serve to retain the end portion of the fascia boardassembly I I. The installation bracket I0 is similar to that disclosedin my copending application S. N. 623,970 to which reference is made fora more detailed description of the bracket and its use for supporting aconventional fascia board. The fascia board assembly ll consists of afascia board strip 9 and two end fittings such as 29. The board 9 isformed from a relatively rigid metal strip of indeterminate length whichis cut to the length desired. This fascia board has a channel-shapedcross section as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the strip being formed withlongitudinal edges l8, 18 which are turned rearwardly and then inwardlyas shown in Fig. 4. This gives the board, when viewed from the front,much the appearance of a wooden fascia board. The rearwardlyandinwardly-turned edges 18, I8 of the fascia board not only enhance itsappearance, but also contribute materially to the rigidity of the board.In addition, longitudinal beads or corrugations i9 extending along thefront of the fascia board further enhance its appearance and furtherreinforce the board. 7

To adapt the end portions of the fascia board 9 for engagement with thefascia board carrier l2 of the installation bracket [0, the end fitting20, best shown in Fig. 2, is employed. The end fitting 20 is adapted tobe telescoped into the ends of the fascia board 9 for this purpose.

The end fitting 20, which is reversible for insertion into either end ofthe fascia board, comprises a sheet metal body having a flat face orflange 2! adapted to lie transversely along the rear side of the fasciaboard 9 and within the inturned edges [8, I8. A flange 22, which issubstantially perpendicular to flange 2|, extends rearwardly from theflange 2| and closes substantially the entire end of the fascia board 9.The flange 22 extends rearwardly sufficiently so as to engage the endsof the inwardly-turned edges 18, I 8 of the fascia board 9 (Figs. 3' and4) and thus limit telescoping movement of the end fitting 20 within theend of the fascia board. A pair of inwardly-turned rear flanges 24, 24extends from the rearward edge of the flange 22 behind and generallyparallel to the face 2| of the end fitting. These flanges havea generalT form, being attached'by the stem of the T to the flange 22. Theproportions of the end fitting 20 are suchthat when it is applied to theend of the fascia board 9 the total thickness between the front face ofthe fascia board and the rear of the flanges 24, 24 is approximatelyequal to the thickness of a wooden fascia board customarily used withVenetian blinds and shown in my above-mentioned application S. N.623,970. The relationship of the assembled end fitting 29 and fasciaboard 9 to the fascia board carrier l2 will be explained later. a

The outer ends 25, 25 of the flanges 24, 24 are stepped forwardly towardthe face 2| of the end fitting so that these ends of the flanges may beinserted beneath the inturned edges l8, l8 of the fascia board 9. Tofacilitate such insertion, the entering corners 25, 26 of these flangesare inclined forwardly toward the face 2| of the end fitting 20.Preferably the parts are so proportioned that upon the end fitting 20being telescoped into the end of the fascia board 9, the flanges 24, 24are flexed toward flange 2| and, due to the resiliency of the endfitting, frictional holding engagement is established between the endfitting and the fascia board.

The fascia board assembly ll, having an end fitting 20 in each end ofthe board 9, may be inserted within the fascia board carrier 12 of theinstallation bracket l9 when the fascia board carrier is in openposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. To insert the fascia board assembly,the front face of the board is placed on the rear face of the frontflange 15 of the carrier and the fascia board assembly slid edgewiseinto the carrier between the front flange and the flanges l6, l6 untilthe board engages the bottom flange H of the carrier. This insertion ofthe fascia board assembly II is accomplished similarly to the insertionof a conventional wooden fascia board.

Upon insertion of the fascia board assembly ll into the carrier [.2 asshown in Figs 1, the mid portionsof the. flanges24, 24 are locateddirectly beneath the flanges l6, it of the carrier l2, thereby retainingthe fascia board against the front flange [5 of the carrier.

The two end fittings 23 of the fascia board assembly are also adapted toretain a curtain rod 21 if desired, this curtain rod extending along therear side of the fascia board 9 and between the rearwardly-extendingflanges 22, 22. of the end fittings 20, 28. Each end. fitting 26. isinitially formed with the flanges 24, 24 and their confronting ends 29,29 in the relationship shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. To prepare the endfitting.

to receive the curtain rod, the upper end 29 is bent forwardly out ofthe way to the position shown in Fig. 6, and the lower end- 29 is bentrearwardly sufiiciently to receive the curtain rod as shown in Fig. 6;'If the lower end 29- is bent correctly, it will receive the curtain rodwith a snap engagement.

The bending of the confronting ends 29, 29 of the flanges 24, 24 toreceive the curtain rodis done at the time of installation, rather thanat the time of manufacture of the end fittings, be-

cause the end fittings at the two ends are dumaking it unnecessary tomanufacture and stock different forms of installation brackets for usewith wooden and metal fascia boards.

I claim: 1. An end fitting for adapting a sheet metal Venetian blindfascia board having rearwardly and inwardly-directed longitudinaledgeportions extending throughout its length and defining the top a'ndbottom and rear faces thereof for support by, a bracket having spaced,generally paral-, lel fascia board engaging flanges, said endfittingcomprising a metal stamping having spaced, generally parallelflanges telescopically engageable with the fascia board with one flangelying against the front face of the fascia board and a pair of resilientrear flanges adapted to be engaged beneath the inturned longitudinaledges of the fascia board and projecting centrally from the ends of thefitting for engagement by a fascia board engaging flange 0f the bracket.I j 2. An end fitting for a sheet metal Venetian blind fascia boardhaving a flat front face and rearwardlyand inwardly-directedlongitudinal edge portions extending throughout its length and definingthe top and bottom and rear faces thereof, said end fitting comprising asheet metal stamping having a front flange and a pair of spaced,aligned, generally parallel resilient rear flanges adapted to betelescoped Within the end of the fascia board with the front flangeagainst the front face of the fascia board and the rear flanges adaptedto be engaged beneath the inturned longitudinal edges of the board, saidrear flanges extending centrally from the ends of for fitting to form anextension of the rear face of the fascia board, and an end portionjoining the front and rear flanges of the fitting and projecting beyondthe rear flanges to limit the telescoping movement Within the end of thefascia board.

3. An end fitting for a sheet metal Venetian blind fascia board having aflat front face and rearwardlyand inwardly-directed longitudinal edgeportions extending throughout its length and defining the top and bottomand rear faces thereof, said end fitting comprising a sheet metalstamping having a front flange and a pair of spaced, aligned, generallyparallel resilient rear flanges, each rear flange extending to an end ofthe fitting, the fitting being adapted to be telescoped Within the endof the fascia board with the front flange against the front face of thefascia board and the rear flanges engaged beneath the inturnedlongitudinal edges of the board, said rear flanges extending centrallyfrom the ends of the fitting to form an extension of the rear face ofthe fascia board and having inwardly-directed inner end portions forreceiving and supporting a curtain rod behind the fascia board.

4. An end fitting for a Venetian blind fascia board, said fittingcomprising a metal stamping adapted to telescope within the end of asheet metal fascia board having rearwardlyand inwardly-directedlongitudinal edge portions extending throughout its length and said endfitting having front and side flanges for extending across the rear faceand the end respectively of the fascia board and a pair of rear flangesextending behind and generally parallel to the front flange and joinedto the rear edge of the side flange intermediate of their length, theouter end portions of the rear flanges being located at the ends of thefitting and engageable beneath the inwardly-directed edges of the fasciaboard.

5. An end fitting for a Venetian blind fascia board, said fittingcomprising a metal stamping adapted to telescope Within the end of asheet metal fascia board having rearwardlyand inwardly-directedlongitudinal edge portions extending throughout its length, said endfitting having front and side flanges for extending across the rear,face and the end respectively of; i

- at the ends of the fitting and stepped towards the front flange forengagement beneath the inwardly-directed edges of the fascia board andthe inside end portions of said flanges being deflectable to engage acurtain rod between one of the rear flanges and the front flange of athe fitting, I

' 6. A fascia board assembly, comprising a sheet metal fascia boardhaving rearwardlyand inwardly-directed longitudinal edge portionsextending throughout its length and defining the top and bottom and rearfaces thereof andan end fitting having a pair of spaced, generallyparallel flanges telescoped within an end of the fascia board and lyingagainst the front and rear faces thereof, and rearward one of the'pairof spaced flanges extending centrally of the fascia board to form anextension of the rear face thereof.

7. A fascia board assembly, comprising a sheet metal fascia board havingrearwardlyand inwardly-directed longitudinal edge portions extendingthroughout its length and defining the top and bottom and rear facesthereof and an end fitting having a pair of spaced, generally parallelflanges telescoped within an end of the fascia board and resilientlyengaging the front and rear faces thereof, the rearward one of the pairof spaced flanges extending'centrally of the fascia board to form anextension of the rear face thereof, and an end flange joining the spacedflanges and engaged with the end of the fascia board to limit thetelescoping of the fitting within the fascia board.

8. An end fitting for a Venetian blind fascia board, said fittingcomprising: a unitary sheet metal stamping adapted to telescope withinan end of a fascia board having rearwardlyand inwardly-directedlongitudinal edge portions extending throughout its length, said endfitting having front and side flanges for extending across the rear ofthe front face and the end of the fascia board, respectively, and a pairof rear flanges extending behind and generally parallel to the frontflange and joined to the rear edge of the side flange at a point remotefrom the outer ends thereof, the outer end portions of the rear flangesbeing located at the ends of the fit-' ting and stepped towards thefront flange for engagement beneath the inwardly-directed edges of thefascia board.

9. An end fitting for a sheet metal Venetian blind fascia board having aflat front face and rearwardlyand inwardly-directed longitudinal edgeportions extending throughout its length and defining the top and bottomand rear faces thereof, an end fitting comprising a unitary sheet metalstamping adapted to telescope within an end of the fascia board, saidfitting having a flat front flange adapted to lie against the front faceof the fascia board, a side flange adapted to extend across andsubstantially close the end of the fascia board, and a pair of resilientrear flanges extending from the rear edge of the side flange ingenerally parallel spaced relation to the front flange, the outer endsof said rear flanges terminating adjacent the ends of the front flangeand being connected to the side flange remote from said outer ends.

10. A fascia board assembly, comprising a sheet metal 'fascia boardhaving a front face portion and rearwardlyandinwardly-directedlongitudinal edgeportions extending throughout its length and definingthe top and bottom and rear faces thereof, and an end fitting having apair of spaced, generally parallel flanges telescoped within an end ofthe fascia board and resiliently engaging the front and rear facesthereof and an end flange joining the spaced flanges and engaged withthe end of the fascia board to limit the telescoping of the fittingwithin the fascia board, an outer end of the rearward one of the pair ofspaced flanges being engaged beneath the inwardly-directed edge portionof the fascia board at an end thereof, said rearward flange extendingcentrally of the rear side of the fascia board and having its surfacelying in a plane substantially further from. the front face portion ofthe fascia board than the inwardly-directed edge portions 7 of saidboard.

the rear of the front face and theend of the fascia board, respectively,and a pair of rear I flanges extending behind and generally parallel tothe front flange and joined to the rear edge of the side flange at apoint remotefrom theouter ends thereof, said front and rear flangesbeing telescoped within an end of the fascia board and resilientlyengaging the front and rear faces thereof, the outer end portions of therear flanges being stepped towards the front flange and en-- gagedbeneath the inwardly-directed edges of the fascia board, the rearflangesextending centrally of the rear face of the fascia board andhaving their rear-surfaces lying in a plane substantially furtherfromthe front'face portion of the fascia board than the inwardly-directededge portions of said'board.

HARRY NELSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,138,502 Nordstrom et al. Nov.29, 1938 2,296,625 Bird etalSept. 22, 1942 2,324,454; Huff July 13, 1943 2,375,247 Rebholz May 8,1945 2,565,447 Andresen Aug. '21, 1951

